Marie Antoinette – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Queen of France

Episode 4 of Marie Antoinette begins with the King having Louis’ testicles checked to see if there is a concern about his inability to consummate his marriage. The doctor assures the King that everything is fine with him.

At the gathering, Louis asks Antoinette if he can visit her that evening, and she gladly agrees. Following that, the King announces that the dauphin and dauphine will soon make their first official visit to Paris. The King believes that if they work together, they will triumph. Following that, the King loses consciousness and falls to the ground, startling everyone in the room.

When the physician asks to go to the King’s room, the countess doesn’t let him in. The countess does not allow anyone to meet the King, but on the King’s orders, she allows Louis into the room. The King asks Louis if he’s prepared to be a King. Louis leaves after feeling sad following the conversation with the King. Thereafter, Antoinette comforts Louis and tells him that she’ll be on his side while he embraces responsibility.

The following morning, the King recovers and informs Louis that he will have to wait a little longer to become King, to which Louis is overjoyed. Following that, Louis and Antoinette go horseback riding. They sit and admire the beauty of the place and engage in some conversation. Thereafter, the two end up kissing.

The King and the Countess are now becoming vulnerable and affectionate with one another. Thereafter, the King promises to protect her if a situation arises wherein he passes away. The King announces that he proposed to the countess and is getting married while having a meal with the other royals. The majority of the family members appear displeased, and even Provence asks the King if he’s allowed to marry his whore. The King then tells Provence that because he’s the King, he is free to do whatever he pleases.

The mistress of the dauphine warns her that Austrians are despised in France and that she will have to work very hard to represent the French when she travels to Paris with the dauphin. Antoinette dislikes the outfit chosen by the mistress for her Paris tour. She then takes it upon herself to find a noteworthy outfit. She persuades the Countess’ wedding gown maker to put together an outfit designed by the dauphine herself. Initially, the woman does not agree, but the dauphine gets her way in the end.

The dauphine prepares for her trip to Paris, wearing an outfit she designed herself, whilst simultaneously ignoring her mistress’s threats. Everyone is stunned and the countess is enraged when she leaves for Paris with the dauphin while wearing the dress.

Antoinette is nervous about her first public appearance, and Louis comforts her. When she shows up, the Parisians appreciate her sense of style and cheer, which boosts her confidence. The dauphin and the dauphine end up dancing together at the ball that night.

The dauphin and dauphine return to Versailles after their tour of Paris. No one praises the dauphine for making a good impression, which upsets her. Furthermore, Provence and his wife announce at tea that they are expecting a child. Antoinette appears to be disturbed because they are about to give birth to the future heir. Louis then asks if he can visit her that night, and she agrees.

That night, Louis and Antoinette try to consummate their marriage, but they end up failing, and Louis writes about it in his diary. Meanwhile, the King falls sick yet again and he passes away. Following that, Louis becomes King, and Antoinette requests that Louis issue an order exiling the countess, which he does.

The Episode Review

The episode advances the plot in terms of Antoinette and Louis’ relationship. Several historical accounts show that their relationship did not come easily to them and that they faced many difficulties; this aspect is showcased well while the show focuses on the early stages of their relationship.

The episode concludes with Antoinette asking Louis to exile the countess as he is now King. This scene is particularly fascinating to watch because our protagonist is morally dubious and seeks vengeance when needed. This segment in particular does a good job of demonstrating that.